Pipe wrench



PIPE WRENCH Filed Sept. 9, 1932 AVU .Z L3 j] j /Oj J7/Tg @A "V /f E d l//7 N I i /J I @Y /0 i ff @5 :Snventor Gttorneg Patented Dec. 19, 1933UNITED STATES PIPE WRENCH william o. ,Thewea North nidgeviue, ohio, as-

signor to The Ridge Tool Company, North Ridgeville, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application September 9, 1932. Serial No. 682,321

13 Claims. (Cl. 81-101) This invention relates broadly to wrenches andparticularly to pipe wrenches, and thev primary object of the same is toprovide an advantageous type of guide mounting for the shank of themovable-jaw of a pipe wrench which will always maintain the said jaw`and shank in a freelyslidable substantially neutral position in thehousing or yoke member therefor;

Anotherobject is to provide'a cooperating V housing and guideconstruction for the movable jaw and shank of a pipe wrench which willalways maintain the said jaw and shank in a neutral freely-slidingposition in the yoke member of a jaw housing while at the same timeperl5 mittingv the jaw to have a certain amount of resilient angularmovement relative tothe fixed jaw so that the jaws may be more readilyfitted to the work and rmly grip the latter without slipping.

Another object is to provide aguide mounting for the movable jaw of'apipe wrench which is an improvement over prior known mountings and whichat the same time is simple in design and does not complicate formationof the Vyoke :t5 member or jaw housing. y

' With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in View, theinvention vconsists 'inthe preferred construction and arrangement of theseveral parts which will be more fully herein- .30 after described andclaimed.

In the drawing2- Figure 1 is a view principally in side elevation withthe yoke member or jaw housing broken away in part to show the method ofmounting said jaw; Y y

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the parts; Y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of fthe housing and fixed jawportion of the wrench, showing a modified type of spring member, andFig. 5 is a detail view of said member;

i Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, views similar to Figs. 4 and 5 of afurther modied form of spring mounting;

Fig. 8 is a view in sectional side elevation of a still furthermodification in structure; and Y Fig. 9 is a viewtaken on the line 9--9,Fig.` 8.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 designatesthe handle portion of the wrench and 6 thefxed jaw portion havingremovably fixed thereon, by means of "pin `"I, a jaw plate 8. Themovable fjaw is indicated yat 9 andis formed with the usual threadedshank 10 .55 which is adapted to move longitudinally in the guidevmounting requires no recessing or diffiyoke member `or housing `11. TheYhandle portion 5 is preferably formed with a boss or projection 12, andan adjusting nut 13 is threaded on the shank 10 and is positionedbetween the said boss and housing. Y

The sidewalls of the housing 11 at the base of the latter are formedwith a longitudinalslot 15, note particularly Fig. 3, defining stopshoul ders' 16. In this slotted portion av resilientlymounted guide 17is positioned and preferably 66 extends longitudinally for thefull'length of the housing. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, theguide 17 is provided with a retainer toe17a, which projects into arecess 18 formed between the jaw plate 8 and the end of the portion 6-70 of the wrench. Spring-housing bores 19 are formed in the portion6,-andtherein springs 20 are positioned and bear `against the guide 17,urging the latter against the stop shoulders 16. The bores -19preferablyv extend at converging =75 angles,l to permit atoolto clearfthe housing 11 vfrom this point toward the rear of the housing said Wallis substantially straight, as at 21a. Thus, at the rear` portion of thehousing, the shank 10 of the movable jaw has a fairly snug slidingfit,suflicient clearance being permitted by I the spring'pressed-guide17 so as not to hinder the vfreedom of ationf of said shank-'while atthe forward portionl of said housing, the tapered wall permits a'certain additional limited-rocking motion under tensionof the shank whenthe jaws grip `the work. 'v

The advantages ofthe foregoing construction will be readily apparent tothose familiar with wrenches of this type The spring-pressed guide 17givesrthe` shank l0 of the movable jaw 195 9 a fairly snug` sliding'fitin the housing 11 without exerting uany binding action orpressure"thereon, ,since outward movement of1 said guide is limited bythe stop shoulders 16, While at the same time the taperv 2l inconjunction -100 with the guide permits a vcertain amount of resilientrocking movement of the movable jawr relative to the fixed jaw so thatthe'jaws can be more readily fitted tothe Work and exert a firm grip onthe latter without slipping. The jaws Yare always in the most favorableposition to be 'adjusted to the work, and theY adjusting nut can bemanipulated without any bindingaction whatsoever. Another advantage isvthatl the cult machining or boring operations in the side walls of thehousing, which has to stand heavy duty and is generally made offorgedvand hardened metal, so that said housing can be pierced hot on aforging machine. The guide 17 is simple in construction and may be madefrom suitable sheet metal stamping. The body of the guide is preferablygiven an arcuate contour in cross section, to conform to the shape ofthe shank 10.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a modied type of guide is shown and consists of apiece of sheet metal having cut or stamped from the middle thereofspring legs 17D, the forward leg being formed with the retaining toe17a. The side` strips 17e which remain after formation of the springlegs 1717 form the bearing portion of the guide. This type of guideeliminates formation of the bores 19 and is in one piece only.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the guide has retaining lugs or projections 17dstamped from the central portion thereof leaving the bearing or bodyportion 17e. These lugs or projections 17d engage in the springs 2Opositioned in the bores 19.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the guide is mounted in the iback wall of ,the housingwhich is formed with the longitudinal slot 15. The guide is indicated at17f and has stamped out or otherwise formed on the intermediate portionthereof projections 17g which extend into a recess 19a formed `in theback of the housing. A spring 20a is positioned 'in the recess aroundthe projections 17g and maintains the guide under tension, .urging itagainst thestop shoulders 16 of the slot 15. In this construction, thetaper 21 `may be omitted.

In each form shown, the guide is limited in its outward movement withrespect to the shank 10 of the movable jaw 9 so that the said shank isalways maintained in a substantially parallcf or neutral freely-slidingposition with respect to its housing 11. Y

It will be understood that certain structural variations and modicationsmay be adopted Within the scope of the appended claims Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1. A wrench comprising a xed jaw and a movable jaw having a shank, ahousing for said shank, and a resiliently-mounted member in said housinghaving restricted movement toward` the shank to maintain the latter in asubstantially neutral freely-sliding position in the housing Withoutactually exerting pressure onfthe shank. f

2. A wrench comprising a fixed jawr and a movable jaw having a shank, ahousing for said shank, a resiliently mounted guide member in saidhousing, and means for limiting the movement of said guide member towardsaid shank to give the shank a freely-sliding neutral mounting in thehousing, while permitting a certain amount of rockingmovement. of theshankunder tension.

`.3. A wrench comprisingV a xedjaw and a movable jaw having a shank, ahousing for said shank formed with a tapered back wall, a spring-pressedguide member in said housing, and means for limitingthe movement ofvsaidmember toward the shank.

` 4L A wrench comprising a fixed jaw` and a movable jaw having a shank,a yhousing for said shank, a spring-pressed guide ,member in saidhousing, means for limiting movement of said member toward the shank tomaintain the latter in a substantially neutral position in the housing,and a partly tapered back Wall on said housing to permit limited angularmovement under tension of the movable jaw relatively to the xed jaw.

5. A Wrench comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw having a shank,ahousing for said shank, a partly tapered back wall on said housing, anda resiliently-mounted guide member in said housing having limitedmovement toward said shank.

6. A Wrench comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw having a shank, ahousing for said shank, Va' spring-pressed guide member in said housing,and stop shoulders against which said member abuts, said shoulders beingpositioned so that the guide member and housing form a relatively snugsliding t for the shank without exerting a bearing pressure thereon.

7. A Wrench comprising a xed jaw and a movable jaw having a shank, ahousing for said shank, and a spring-pressedrguide member in saidhousing, said guide member being housed in a cavity formed with stopshoulders which limit the movement of the guide member toward saidshank, to provide a relatively snug sliding fit for the shank Withoutexerting a bearing pressure thereon.

8. A Wrench comprising a xed jaw and a movable jaw having a shank, ahousing for said movable jaw, the body portion of the Wrench adjacentthe xed jaw being formed With a longitudinally-extending cavity formedwith stop shoulders, a spring-pressed guide member in said, cavityadapted to abut against said shoulders to provide a relatively snugsliding fit for said shank Without binding the latter, anda partlytaperedback wall formed on said housing.

9. In a pipe' wrench, a movable jaw formed with a shank, a housing forsaid shank, a resiliently-mounted member having limited `movement towardsaid shank to provide a relatively snug sliding rit for the shank andmaintain the latter in a substantially neutral position in the housing,and a partly tapered back Wall on said housing to permit limited angularmovement of said jaw when applied to work.

10. In a pipe Wrench, a xed jaw and a movable jaw formed with a shank, ahousing for said shank, a spring-pressed guide member mounted in thebase of said housing, means for limiting the movement of said guidemember toward said shank, and means for retaining said member againstlongitudinal displacement in the base of said housing.

11.,In a pipe Wrench, a iiXed jaw portion formed with a housing, amovable jaw formed with a shank adapted to have longitudinal movement insaid housing, a spring-pressed guide Ymember forV said shank mounted insaid housing and extending for substantially the full length of thehousing, stop shoulders for limit- `ing the movement of the guide membertoward said shank to Vgive the latter va relatively snug sliding iit inthe housing without exerting bearing pressure on the shank to therebymaintain the latter in a freely-sliding neutral position in the housing,the back wall of the housing being partly tapered from the rear towardthe front thereofV to permit limited angular movement of the movable jawrelatively to the iixed jaw.

12. In a pipe Wrench, a movable jaw and a iiXed jaw, a housing for theshank of the movable jaw, a recess formedV in the back wall of nso saidhousing, a longitudinal slot extending at substantially right angles tosaid recess defining stop shoulders, a guide member mounted in saidslot, and a spring mounted in said recess for normally urging said guidemember against said stop shoulders.

13. A pipe Wrench comprising a fixed jaw portion formed with a handleand a housing, al

movable jaw formed with a shank adapted to have longitudinal movement insaid housing, the base of said housing being formed with a longitudnalslot, a spring-pressed guide member for

